You’ve Got a Friend in Me

October 12, 2023

Each year, Twin Lakes hosts a county-wide event called “You’ve Got a Friend Day” for students with disabilities to spend a day with a high school buddy. Over 500 kids from multiple different schools across Westmoreland County participate in this day with paddle boating, a petting zoo, bounce houses, music, and more. On October 5, 2023, twenty United Spartans members had the opportunity to join the fun this year and partner up with other students, elementary to high school, from our district.

Senior Sarah Pugliese one of the United Spartans students who participated in the day expresses, “It was nice to interact with the kids and do so many fun activities together on such a nice day.” This experience is one that does not disappoint either party. It is such an amazing chance to connect with students who don’t always have the same experience as most of their peers.

Senior Jamee Kohler also attended the and event exclaims, “You’ve Got a Friend Day was such a fun and amazing experience. My buddy and I got to do a ton of fun activities and got to know each other throughout the day. It was super impactful and overall a great day!”

Students danced, laughed, and were fortunate enough to experience a day outside of the classroom and were still able to learn. They were able to immerse themselves in a perspective that lives outside of their everyday lives.

About the Contributor

Alyssa Manderach, Editor

Spartan pride runs deep for Alyssa Manderach, who is originally an Ocean City, Maryland native. She has spent the last 7 years working to embrace what it means to be a part of Hempfield Area. The Royal has been a dedicated passion of hers since she started writing for it two years ago during her sophomore year. Her work preserving events and memories for the newspaper has pushed her to pursue a career in journalism after graduating from college. Much of her time is also spent volunteering and working with the school as president of United Spartans. Between her time in these organizations, as well as many other clubs and honor societies, she has seen the opportunities to volunteer with local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Beverly's Birthdays, and Westmoreland County Food Bank. Her plans for the upcoming years involve attending a four-year university, studying communications with a focus on media, so that hopefully she can enter the journalism field as a writer or editor.